Rep. Shane Mekeland

Maddy summaryThis bill makes Minnesota's paid family and medical leave program optional for both employers and employees. It allows employers to opt out of the program by submitting a form to the state, with the option to change their decision once every 12 months. Employees of opting-out employers can still participate as self-employed individuals, while all employees retain the ability to opt out individually using a state form. The changes modify existing requirements in Minnesota Statutes chapter 268B to provide this flexibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a propane school bus deployment program in Minnesota to help school districts and transportation providers purchase propane-fueled school buses. It creates a grant system where eligible applicants, including school districts and transportation service providers, can apply for funding to buy propane school buses, with priority given to districts serving high-poverty or rural communities. The program requires applicants to demonstrate financial need, readiness to operate the buses for at least five years, and a plan to prioritize deployment in areas with many students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The state will provide technical assistance to help districts develop and execute their projects, and the commissioner must issue grant requests at least twice annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Sherburne County to collect a new 0.25% local sales and use tax if approved by voters in a special election. The tax revenue would be used to fund up to $75 million for building a law enforcement center that includes a jail, covering both construction costs and associated bond expenses. The tax would last for up to 20 years or until the project is fully funded, with any remaining funds going to the county's general fund. The legislation also allows the county to issue bonds without being subject to certain debt limits and without requiring a separate voter approval for the bonds themselves.

Maddy summaryHF 3219, the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," designates all mRNA-based medical products - including vaccines like those for COVID-19 - as "weapons of mass destruction" under Minnesota law. The bill prohibits possession, distribution, or manufacturing of these products, with criminal penalties for violations, and requires state/local officials to enforce the ban. It broadly defines "mRNA injections and products" to include any mRNA therapy, gene-altering agents, or nanoparticles, excluding only naturally occurring mRNA. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, and would directly affect individuals receiving mRNA-based medical treatments in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1987, the Minnesota Starter Home Act, allows municipalities to permit more housing types in all residential zoning districts without requiring new zoning changes. It specifically authorizes single-family homes, duplexes, accessory dwelling units (in most cases), and townhouses on newly platted lots or vacant land. The bill exempts municipalities from needing comprehensive plan amendments for these housing types until December 2029. Additionally, it lowers the voting threshold for approving affordable housing developments from a two-thirds to a simple majority vote in local governing bodies.

Maddy summaryHF 485 amends Minnesota law to allow the Public Utilities Commission to issue certificates of need for new nuclear power plants with a maximum capacity of 300 megawatts. This change permits the construction of smaller-scale nuclear facilities, which were previously prohibited under existing statute. The bill specifically modifies Minnesota Statutes section 216B.243 to add this exception while maintaining the ban on larger nuclear projects. It directly affects nuclear developers seeking to build these smaller plants and the commission responsible for reviewing such applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a sales tax exemption for preowned motor vehicles in Minnesota, meaning buyers would not pay the standard sales tax when purchasing a used car. The legislation defines a preowned vehicle as any motor vehicle that has been previously sold, titled, registered, or transferred to someone else and operated before the current sale. The exemption applies to sales and purchases made after June 30, 2026, and would directly affect private individuals and businesses buying used vehicles in the state. The bill amends existing tax statutes to add this new exemption category alongside other existing tax exemptions for specific groups and vehicle types.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's renewable energy requirements for state-funded construction projects by removing the mandate that renewable energy sources must be located on the building site. It directs the Department of Administration and Department of Commerce to develop sustainable building guidelines for new state buildings and major renovations, requiring these structures to exceed the state energy code by at least 30 percent. The changes apply to any new building project where predesign work is completed after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's electrical licensing rules to clarify who can supervise electrical work and update requirements for unlicensed workers. It directly affects licensed electricians, contractors, and unlicensed individuals performing electrical tasks. The key changes allow unlicensed workers to be supervised by licensed contractors rather than requiring them to work under the same employer, while maintaining limits on how many unlicensed individuals a licensed person can supervise. The bill also updates experience requirements for journeyworker and power limited technician licenses and clarifies supervision rules for technology circuits.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the 100 percent carbon-free electricity standard that was set for Minnesota electric utilities by 2040. It removes the legal requirement for utilities to generate or procure electricity from carbon-free sources to meet specific percentage targets of 80 percent by 2030, 90 percent by 2035, and 100 percent by 2040. The change directly affects electric utilities operating in Minnesota by eliminating the mandate to achieve these renewable energy goals. This legislative action removes the previously established timeline for carbon-free electricity generation without adding new requirements.